For which opioid pain drug order should you contact and question the prescriber?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Opioids,especially meperidine (Demerol),can make the chest muscles of older adults tighter,which makes breathing and coughing more difficult.Thus the risk for pneumonia and hypoxia is greater for them.Check the respiratory rate and depth as well as the oxygen saturation at least every 2 hours.In addition,meperidine causes the buildup of a toxic metabolite in older adults that can result in seizures.Avoid the use of meperidine in older adults.

For Which Opioid Pain Drug Order Should You Contact and Question